Alexa killed Alexa! Yeah, there was an older Alexa before the current Alexa but the former got mixed up in the branding and naming to the point that Amazon willingly killed it off – but that’s not the story here.

The success of the new Alexa AI virtual assistant is what we’re here for and that is something interesting.

Recently, NASA has announced that Alexa will be the accompanying AI system for its Artemis I mission.

This is the mission that will land the next generation of humans on the moon’s surface after so many years of doing so.

Alexa will be used in NASA’s Orion spacecraft and will have access to real-time telemetry data through which it will be able to respond to thousands of mission-specific questions such as “Alexa, how fast is Orion traveling?”

Another cool thing Alexa will be able to do is the ability to control connected devices on board Orion such as in-cabin lighting and other systems.

While connected to NASA’s Deep Space Network, Alexa will be able to retrieve information from Earth upon requests by Astronauts in space – those include news briefing, sports scores, even helping astronauts connect with their loved ones.

For the Artemis I mission, it will be uncrewed but Amazon will depend on a virtual crew experience at NASA’s Johnson Space Center in Houston, Texas.

The development of the technology will be a collaboration with Lockheed Martin and Cisco. The experience is also expected to provide remote access to Callisto and simulate interactions between Alexa and future astronauts.

Despite the fact that the system will be built to accompany the trip, users at home on Alexa-compatible devices will be able to browse info on the mission.

Access to Orion’s telemetry data as well as videos and photos from the mission will be granted.

Amazon will be launching the new Alexa features “closer to the mission”, but a preview is already available now available across Alexa-enabled devices. To access it, all you have to say is “Alexa, take me to the Moon.”

In case you’re wondering about when the Artemis mission will start or are interested in knowing any other space mission this year, we’ve written a compilation of space missions to watch out for in the year 2022.